Marius Kloppers

BHP board may delay mega-projects

24 May 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 24 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | BHP board may delay mega-projects

There is a growing expectation that BHP Billiton could delay the approval of all three of its mining mega-projects by at least a year following bearish comments by its chief executive and chairman last week.

Spot iron down 10pc in month

22 May 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Spot iron down 10pc in month

The iron ore market has become increasingly fragile as weakening market sentiment hits Chinese steel producers.

Why Australia’s at risk?

19 May 2012 | Robert Guy

PRINT: 19 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Why Australia’s at risk

Far from being a safe haven, Australia is priced for risk – so the markets and the dollar are being walloped.

Kloppers, Nasser have misjudged resource cycle

18 May 2012 | Phil Henty

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 47 | Kloppers, Nasser have misjudged cycle

BHP chairman Jac Nasser and his chief executive Marius Kloppers think Australia is an expensive place to do business ( “BHP salvo on IR, tax”, May 17).

ASX closes down 0.2pc on global instability

17 May 2012 | Bianca Hartge-Hazelman

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Oversold, over Europe

Equity traders are bracing themselves for further instability and sideways market action amid growing concern among investors that Greece may have to leave the euro zone.

Olympic Dam ‘ready to go’: Weatherill

17 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Weatherill confident on Olympic Dam

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says he has no reason to believe BHP Billiton will not approve spending on the $US30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine by the end of the year.

Language studies a vexed business

17 May 2012 | Geoff Winestock

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 5 | Language skills a vexed business in the Asian century

The hard lesson of cuts in funding and declining student numbers is that not everyone accepts the business case for a greater focus on teaching Asian languages.

Iron Ore demand to fall: BHP chief

17 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 23 | Iron Ore demand to fall: BHP chief

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has warned that commodity prices are set to fall as demand growth slows, forcing the company to scrutinise investment decisions more closely.

Kloppers gets message home

17 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Kloppers gets message home

Marius Kloppers is a smart man and yesterday’s presentation, however bland it seemed on the surface, conveyed a powerful message.

BHP fires salvo on industrial relations, tax

16 May 2012 | Andrew White

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | BHP salvo on IR, tax

BHP Billiton chairman Jac Nasser has launched a broadside at the Gillard government, calling for a halt to tax changes that have unsettled investors, and for an industrial relations system that balances the needs of ­companies and employees to stem a fall in competitiveness.

Iron ore demand to drop: Kloppers

16 May 2012 |

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Iron ore demand to fall: BHP chief

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has warned that commodity prices are set to fall as demand growth slows, forcing the company to scrutinise investment decisions more closely.

BHP insists there’s gold in US shale

15 May 2012 | Angela Macdonald-Smith

PRINT: 15 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | BHP insists there’s gold in US shale

BHP Billiton’s petroleum chief executive, Michael Yeager, has conceded that a write-down of the mining giant’s $US26.9 billion of shale gas assets in the United States is possible given the slump in US gas prices. But he has insisted the business will create “huge wealth” in the longer term.

It’s not all roses on the gas front

14 May 2012 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 14 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | It’s not all roses on the gas front

Williams | As the doors swing open in Adelaide to the Appea conference, there’s a growing feeling that we may have seen the peak of the cycle.

Canaries unwell in US coalmines

14 May 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 14 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Canaries unwell in US coalmines

Cheap shale gas combined with stricter regulations on emissions has led to a preference for electricity from natural gas over coal.

Resources hubris put on hold

12 May 2012 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 12 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Resources hubris put on hold

Senior executives at mining giant BHP Billiton were shaken out of their complacency about the resources super cycle in November last year when all projects were put under review.

Kloppers to focus on shareholder returns

12 May 2012 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 12 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Kloppers’ conservative agenda

BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers has declared the resources giant will champion a “conservative” approach to capital management and investment opportunities.

Death of the super cycle

12 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 12 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Super cycle plateaus as speculation drives prices

Perhaps the biggest worry for anyone pondering how much gusto is left in the mining “super cycle” is the downward shift in confidence at the big end of town.

Downside of gas surprises BHP

12 May 2012 | Matthew Stevens

PRINT: 14 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Downside of shale gas surprises BHP

Stevens | Stepped-up production has hit the price of shale gas, which may push BHP into embarrassing write-downs.

Barnett frees land for Anketell Point

10 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Barnett frees land for Anketell Point

West Australian premier Colin Barnett says the state will move swiftly to ensure all market players can access ports, after the government moved to free up land for Anketell Point Port development.

Atlas sure of immunity from port capacity cut

09 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 09 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Atlas sure of immunity from cut

Atlas Iron is confident the West Australian government will ensure its export allocation at Port Hedland is not squeezed as tensions simmer in the Pilbara over rail infrastructure developments.

BHP brings Maxwell into energy coal

08 May 2012 | Ayesha De Kretser

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

Ian Maxwell will become BHP Billiton’s new president of energy coal from July 1, after Jimmy Wilson took over from the recently resigned Ian Ashby as head of iron ore operations.

Coalmining costs mean it’s no cash cow

05 May 2012 | Perry Williams and Matthew Cranston

PRINT: 05 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Costs of coalmining mean it’s no cash cow

Rio Tinto boss Tom Albanese thinks it’s time to lift the lid on some misconceptions. Rio is increasingly finding that on Australia’s east coast, coal projects are failing to stack up with rival developments around the globe.

PM’s business dinner par for the course

03 May 2012 | Kevin Chinnery

PRINT: 03 May 2012 | PAGE 8 | Business dinner par for course

The Prime Minister frequently has to face worse odds, but on Tuesday night Julia Gillard took on the cream of the nation’s business bosses at a dinner with about 30 chief executives.

Table talk: dinner with the PM

02 May 2012 | Andrew Cleary

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Table talk: dinner with the PM

Julia Gillard rallied business leaders from across the spectrum to a private dinner in Sydney last night as the Prime Minister attempts to shore up shaky support in the corporate sector ahead of next week’s budget.

Deal done, then Rudd rolled

23 April 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 23 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Deal done, Rudd rolled

The top miners’ key concerns had already been resolved in talks between the miners and the Treasurer before Kevin Rudd was rolled by his deputy.

Kloppers pours cold water on Forrest mining tax claim

20 April 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 11 | BHP boss begs to differ with Forrest

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have rejected Andrew Forrest’s claim that they were involved in negotiating a secret deal on a revised mining tax with Julia Gillard before she challenged for the leadership in 2010.

This tax won’t bite

19 April 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 19 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | This tax won’t bite

Hewett | So what if you throw a big tax and no one much turns up? That’s looking ever more likely to be the fate of the new mining tax.

COAG still lacking clear priorities

17 April 2012 | The Australian Financial Review

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 62 | COAG is still lacking clear priorities

Editorial | Julia Gillard has made a renewed push to cut through the red tape that binds business but she has yet to articulate a clear vision or a goal in this or any other area of federal-state relations.

Where’s the boom gone?

14 April 2012 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 43 | Where’s the boom gone?

ust over a month after Treasurer Wayne Swan inflamed miners with his attack on the “billionaires club”, resource chiefs are warning of issues beginning to cripple marginal production.

BHP hits a hard road

14 April 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 43 | BHP hits A hard road

BHP has its finger on the pause button, threatening up to $US50 billion in spending on some of the biggest mining projects in the world, including Olympic Dam. How has it come to this?

BHP defends closure of ‘loss-making’ mine

12 April 2012 | Fleur Anderson

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 8 | Kloppers defends closure

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has defended the coal producer’s decision to shut a the Norwich Park mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, saying the company holds a long-standing policy of not running facilities that lose money.

Business strikes deal with Gillard

12 April 2012 | Louise Dodson

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 15 | Business strikes deal with Gillard

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has struck a historic agreement with business leaders to speed up approvals for big projects and cut regulation.

Shorten moves to keep docks open

12 April 2012 | Pip Freebairn

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Shorten moves to keep docks open

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten was forced to intervene to head off war on the docks after Patrick threatened to lock out Maritime Union of Australia wharfies in a Qantas-style showdown.

BHP shuts mine in union brawl

12 April 2012 | Dan Hall

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | BHP shuts mine in union brawl

The world’s biggest coking coal producer has shut a mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, putting 1400 jobs at risk, after repeatedly warning that the project might not survive the industrial action sweeping the region.

BHP moves to unlock Mad Dog oil

11 April 2012 | Angela Macdonald-Smith

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 27 | BHP moves to unleash Mad Dog

BHP Billiton has committed $US708 million ($688 million) in early funding for the second phase of development of its huge Mad Dog oil project in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of a formal go-ahead for the project next year.

Big business to get a hearing

10 April 2012 | Laura Tingle

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 3 | Big business to get a hearing

Senior business leaders will get the chance to directly lobby the Prime Minister and the Premiers about the priorities for future deregulation at a meeting in Canberra.

Exit of an expert ironman

31 March 2012 | Matthew Stevens

PRINT: 31 March 2012 | PAGE 21 | Exit of an expert ironman

Stevens | You could be forgiven for thinking Ian Ashby’s decision to retire from BHP Billiton is just about as untimely as it is unexpected.

Ore chief to leave BHP in the fast lane

31 March 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 31 March 2012 | PAGE 17 | Ore chief to leave BHP in the fast lane

BHP Billiton’s long-serving iron ore division head, Ian Ashby, has announced plans to leave the company, in the latest in a series of senior management changes at the resources giant.

BHP iron ore boss Ian Ashby to leave

30 March 2012 | Jamie Freed

Updated | BHP Billiton’s iron ore division head, Ian Ashby, plans to leave the mining company on July 1 after serving more than 25 years with it.

Shaken Leighton losing steam

30 March 2012 | Michael Smith

PRINT: 30 March 2012 | PAGE 52 | Shaken Leighton losing steam

Updated | Investors are not sure who to blame first for the latest mess at Leighton Holdings. Wal King, the builder, or Hamish Tyrwhitt, the fixer?

Barron’s backs Kloppers in CEO list

28 March 2012 | Elise Shaw

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has been named one of the world’s top CEOs by Barron’s magazine in the US.

Coalition queries MRRT take

23 March 2012 | Gemma Daley

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 4 | Coalition queries MRRT take

Coalition resources spokesman Ian Macfarlane has questioned whether big miners will pay any minerals resource rent tax, after a recent meeting with BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers.

Progressive dividends here to stay

16 March 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 16 March 2012 | PAGE 18 | Progressive dividends here to stay

The progressive dividend policies of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto mean they are wary of boosting dividends to levels that could prove unsustainable.

Big miners like to keep work DIY

15 March 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 2 | Big miners like to keep work DIY

ResourcesDaily Quarterly | When it comes to deciding whether to use a mining contractor or to mine its iron ore itself, Fortescue Metals Group director of developments Peter Meurs says his company isn’t wedded to either model.

Residents vent their spleen at BHP

14 March 2012 | Jason Murphy

PRINT: 14 March 2012 | PAGE 14 | Miners and families vent spleen at BHP

The battle over Queensland’s coal mining communities took an unusual turn on Tuesday as miners and their families - with a former member of The Chaser - showed up outside BHP Billiton’s Melbourne HQ.

Coalmine dispute is ‘fight we had to have’: BHP

08 March 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 08 March 2012 | PAGE 16 | Fight we had to

A leaked email has revealed that a top BHP Billiton executive urged his managers to stand firm in the 16-month dispute at their Queensland coking coalmines, describing it as “the fight we had to have” to protect managerial prerogative.

Swan line is the pits

07 March 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 07 March 2012 | PAGE 2 | Swan line is the pits

Wayne Swan may be permanently lost in a Labor time warp but Julia Gillard is keen to prove business and government are in this together.

BHP awards Jansen housing contract

06 March 2012 | Jamie Freed

BHP Billiton has awarded Canadian group ATCO Structures & Logistics a contract to provide housing for 2586 workers at its $US10 billion-plus Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan.

Woolies takes the long view

05 March 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 05 March 2012 | PAGE 56 | Woolies takes the long view

Woolworths chief executive Grant O’Brien may not know much about mining, but he has a lot in common with BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers.

Comfy Australia hits hard reality

05 March 2012 | Matthew Stevens

PRINT: 05 March 2012 | PAGE 8 | Comfy Australia hits hard reality

This was the profit season when the headline numbers finally caught up with the national vibe, when even the most powerful of profit engines stalled.

Companies briefs

02 March 2012 |

PRINT: 02 March 2012 | PAGE 24 | In brief

Murchison Metals has slimmed down its board again following the completion of the sale of its 50 per cent holding in the Crosslands joint venture to Mitsubishi Corporation.

Chip Goodyear appointed to Anadarko board

01 March 2012 | Jamie Freed

Former BHP Billiton chief executive Chip Goodyear has been appointed to the board of US oil and gas company Anadarko Petroleum.

Canadians get no assurance from BHP

29 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 29 February 2012 | PAGE 17 | Canadians get no assurance from BHP

BHP Billiton has failed to give any assurances to Canadian officials that it will make a final investment decision on its $US10 billion-plus Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan by the end of the year.

Strategies differ, but result the same

16 February 2012 | Damon Frith

PRINT: 20 February 2012 | PAGE 22 | Strategies differ, but result the same

Treat ‘em mean, keep ’em keen is one way to view BHP Billiton’s apparent indifference to its Chinese customers. It’s in stark contrast to Rio Tinto’s policy.

BHP coal arm hit by seven-day strike

15 February 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 15 February 2012 | PAGE 10 | BHP coal arm hit by seven-day strike

A seven-day strike starting on Wednesday at Queensland coal mines run by the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance will throw up questions about the future of the Norwich Park mine.

Fair Work entrenches conflict

15 February 2012 | Matthew Stevens

PRINT: 15 February 2012 | PAGE 40 | Fair Work entrenches conflict

Bill Shorten is obviously a smart sort of guy. But being a politician, he occasionally might just have to suspend disbelief and maintain the party line.

Investors focus on marketing operations

10 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 10 February 2012 | PAGE 41 | Investors focus on marketing operations

Glencore’s push for a $US90 billion ($83.2 billion) merger with miner Xstrata has driven increased investor interest in commodities marketing operations.

Week-long strike at BHP coal mines

10 February 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 10 February 2012 | PAGE 10 | Week-long BHP strike

Workers at multiple BHP Billiton Mitsubushi Alliance coal mines in Queensland will push ahead with a legally-protected, seven day strike next week, despite the company’s leadership saying it wanted to reach a deal with a “minimum of fuss”.

Resource giants dig deep for growth

09 February 2012 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 09 February 2012 | PAGE 64 | Resource giants dig deep for growth

Some stark choices are emerging in the resources sector as BHP Billiton’s Marius Kloppers pursues a strategy that is best described as boring.

Glencore-Xstrata merger no threat: BHP chief

09 February 2012 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 09 February 2012 | PAGE 21 | Kloppers says merger is no threat

BHP Billiton has dismissed suggestions the potential $US90 billion ($84 billion) merger between Glencore and Xstrata would pose a threat to its growth plans.

BHP cautious as profit dips

09 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: PAGE 1 | BHP cautious as profit dips

BHP Billiton has decided not to increase payouts to shareholders and has flagged potential delays to major expansion projects after profits at Australia’s biggest company fell for the first time since the GFC.

BHP changes course on US gas

09 February 2012 | Angela Macdonald-Smith

PRINT: PAGE 21 | BHP changes course in US

Depressed US natural gas prices have forced BHP Billiton to adjust its spending plans for North American shale gas, raising fresh worries about the value of its $US20 billion foray into the sector less than 12 months ago.

Chinese tipped to lift steel output

09 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: PAGE 21 | Chinese tipped to lift steel output

BHP Billiton expects Chinese steelmakers will boost their production rates following the lunar new year celebrations leading to a bright outlook for the iron ore price in the short to medium term.

Division sees 54pc earnings fall

09 February 2012 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 09 February 2012 | PAGE 20 | Division’s earnings

Earnings from BHP Billiton’s base metals unit slumped by more than half as a dip in prices combined with lower grades and industrial disputes clouded the group’s half-year results.

BHP stresses right to manage in IR deals

09 February 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 09 February 2012 | PAGE 9 | Miner stresses right to manage

BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers has linked billions of dollars of future investment to its “right to manage” when negotiating with unions.

BHP needs big volumes to meet costs

09 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: PAGE 20 | Big volumes needed as prices slide

For a company that reported $11.4 billion of operating cash flow in the first half, it sounds strange to suggest it is essentially living hand to mouth.

It’s the PM who doesn’t get it

09 February 2012 | The Australian Financial Review

PRINT: 09 February 2012 | PAGE 62 | It’s the PM who

Editorial | Asked if there was an obligation on the car industry to become efficient so that it would not need subsidies, Julia Gillard declared the media completely misunderstood what the government was doing.

BHP’s base metal earnings slump

08 February 2012 | Perry Williams

Earnings from BHP Billiton’s base metals unit slumped by more than half as a dip in prices combined with lower grades and industrial disputes clouded the group’s overall performance at its half-year results.

Video | BHP’s profit results

08 February 2012 |

BHP’s Marius Kloppers delivers their half year profit report, with earnings down due to commodity price drops and industrial action.

BHP’s prudent as profit slips

08 February 2012 | MICHAEL SMITH

BHP’s most disappointing result since the GFC underlines the pressure facing even the best-capitalised and diversified of resource companies.

Fair Work makes agreement harder: BHP

08 February 2012 | Mark Skulley

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers said the Gillard’s government’s workplace laws have made it more difficult to negotiate new agreements with unions because more claims can be put on the table.

BHP rethinks shale gas spending

08 February 2012 | Angela Macdonald-Smith AND PERRY WILLIAMS

Updated | Depressed US natural gas prices have forced BHP Billiton to rethink spending on North American shale gas less than a year after the acquisition of the assets for a combined $US20 billion.

BHP profit $US9.9bn, payout steady

08 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

BHP Billiton has reported a $US9.94 billion interim profit – in line with expectations of $US10 billion – but has decided not to raise its dividend or to launch a share buyback .

Miners’ spending plans in the spotlight

06 February 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 06 February 2012 | PAGE 16 | Spending plans in the spotlight

The record spending plans of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto at a time when the economic outlook remains uncertain will be in focus when the major miners report their latest earnings figures this week.

Mines bid no merger of equals

03 February 2012 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 03 February 2012 | PAGE 60 | Mines bid no merger of equals

The $US80 billion merger of Glencore and Xstrata provides a ­fascinating test for one of the biggest and most successful dealmakers in the resources sector – Mick Davis.

Aluminium, nickel on the skids at BHP

02 February 2012 | DAMON FRITH

Like diamonds, aluminium and nickel are on death row. BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers would likely march them out the door if a buyer could be found.

BHP digs in for deep liaison

31 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 31 January 2012 | PAGE 15 | BHP digs in for deep liaison

The unusual sight of the BHP Billiton board sitting down for dinner at the South Australian Museum last night has only reinforced the market’s view that the company will push the button on the $US20 billion plus expansion of the Olympic Dam mine this year.

BHP dines out on $20bn Olympic Dam expansion

30 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 27 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | BHP dines out on $20bn Olympic Dam expansion

Exclusive | The future of the massive Olympic Dam project will be the No. 1 item on the menu when the board of BHP Billiton descends on Adelaide for a private dinner with South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill.

What Kloppers knows

28 January 2012 | Geoff Kitney

PRINT: 28 January 2012 | PAGE 49 | What Kloppers knows

Cyber attacks against businesses are becoming more prevalent and it is time CEOs and board members started taking more responsibility.

BHP sets course for Port Hedland Harbour

24 January 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 24 January 2012 | PAGE 16 | BHP sets sail for Port Hedland harbour

BHP Billiton is on track to approve the first major spending on a $US10 billion-plus outer harbour project at Port Hedland in the coming weeks after receiving conditional environmental approvals from the West Australian government.

Big decisions for BHP in a big year

24 January 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 24 January 2012 | PAGE 16 | Big decisions in a big year

For BHP Billiton, 2012 is shaping up as the year of the mega-project approvals.

Commodity price falls to hit BHP’s earnings growth

20 January 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 20 January 2012 | PAGE 39 | Commodity price falls to hit earnings growth

BHP Billiton’s period of earnings stagnation or decline already appears to have begun, with analysts now forecasting it will report a half-year underlying profit of around $US10 billion next month, down from a record $US10.7 billion last year.

BHP’s lingering IR blues

18 January 2012 | MICHAEL SMITH

BHP Billiton investors aren’t happy with Queensland’s coalmine strikes, but they must persevere until the government clarifies its IR policy.

Directors snaffle juniors’ gold

05 January 2012 | Dan Hall

PRINT: 05 January 2012 | PAGE 15 | Directors snaffle juniors’ gold

Directors of some listed junior resources companies are collecting substantial fees and performance bonuses that have them earning as much as the chiefs of Australia’s largest firms.

The 2012 risk list

30 December 2011 | Jonathan Shapiro

It’s that time of year again when Financial Review DealBook gazes into the crystal balls of analysts, investors and the blogosphere to foretell where the next financial markets catastrophe lies.

Guildford Coal to pay boss $7m bonus

29 December 2011 | Dan Hall

Santa has come twice to Guildford Coal managing director Michael Avery, who is set to receive a $7 million bonus from the junior coal explorer, which is worth $163 million.

Forget career ladders, think road less travelled to success

22 December 2011 | Colleen Ryan

PRINT: 22 December 2011 | PAGE 51 | Forget career ladders, think road less travelled to success

Graduates take heart. There are many routes to the top and these high achievers – from BHP boss Marius Kloppers, to Morgan and Banks founder Andrew Banks – took some strange paths.

Harry Winston covets BHP jewels

12 December 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 12 December 2011 | PAGE 18 | Harry Winston covets BHP jewels

Harry Winston Diamond Corp has “some interest” in purchasing BHP Billiton’s Ekati diamond mine in northern Canada.

Productivity dive not our fault: Swan

12 December 2011 | Adrian Rollins

PRINT: 12 December 2011 | PAGE 5 | Productivity dive not our fault: Swan

The pressure on the federal government to overhaul its Fair Work Act is mounting, with evidence that labour productivity has slumped to one of its lowest points since the mid-1990s.

Putting CSG developers on the spot

09 December 2011 | Damon Frith

Few coal seam gas developers will be factoring into their plans a change that will eventually transform pricing in the LNG industry.

CEO hypocrisy is never a good look

09 December 2011 | Greg Mckenzie

PRINT: 09 December 2011 | PAGE 55 | CEO hypocrisy is never a good look

“Kloppers slams Fair Work” (December 8) is worrying. Overpaid CEOs should not openly criticise unions for trying to get better pay and conditions for their members.

Deckhands’ pay soars, dockers strike

09 December 2011 | Peter Kerr

PRINT: 09 December 2011 | PAGE 10 | Deckhands’ pay soars, dockers strike

The Maritime Union has secured a 40 per cent pay rise for workers in the offshore dredging industry, that will see some crew paid an annual rate of $356,000 for doing odd jobs.

We’re not for turning on IR, minister says

09 December 2011 | Pip Freebairn

PRINT: 09 December 2011 | PAGE 11 | We’re not for turning: Evans

Employment Minister Chris Evans hit back on Thursday at criticism from BHP‘s Marius Kloppers that the current system makes it easier for workers to strike.

Wall St climbs as G20 plans to boost euro fund

08 December 2011 | Joanna Heath

Before the Bell | Wall St ends higher on reports G20 may provide $US600bn boost to tackle euro debt crisis ■ Dow Jones up 0.38pc ■ S&P 500 gains 0.2pc ■ SPI down 8pnts ■ $A at $US1.0285

Kloppers confident on costs for new projects

08 December 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 08 December 2011 | PAGE 20 | BHP ready for start-up costs

BHP Billiton’s ambitious plans to expand Olympic Dam, construct an Outer Harbour at Port Hedland and build a new potash mine in Canada will come with heavy upfront capital requirements.

Skills crunch fuels BHP Fair Work fears

08 December 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 08 December 2011 | PAGE 1 | Kloppers slams Fair Work

BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers has said the Gillard government’s Fair Work Act, coupled with a skills crunch in the mining sector, has made it easier for workers to strike and made industrial relations negotiations more complex.

Regional bank ratings shake-up

08 December 2011 | Michael Smith

PRINT: 08 December 2011 | PAGE 56 | Regional bank ratings shake-up

It’s been a tough year for the Sunshine State. So it wasn’t surprising S&P took the knife to Bank of Queensland’s credit rating yesterday.

Executives a class act to follow

05 December 2011 | Rachel Lebihan

PRINT: 05 December 2011 | PAGE 29 | Executives a class act to follow

You don’t need a business degree to run one of Australia’s top companies. In fact, you don’t need a university degree at all.

Pursuit of fair go versus home truth

03 December 2011 | Natalie Gerritsen

PRINT: 03 December 2011 | PAGE 49 | Unions create a state of discord

In Perth this week, more than 1000 workers marched through the central business district calling for major resources companies to stop importing foreign labour.

Milking the BHP cash cow

01 December 2011 | Damon Frith

Shale gas plays in the US are a real game changer and BHP Billiton is eager to be one of the first to start exporting LNG from the US.

BHP Billiton (BHP)

01 December 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 02 December 2011 | PAGE 32 |

BHP Billiton’s share price has fallen in line with the weakening global economic outlook.

China could sink the surplus

30 November 2011 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 30 November 2011 | PAGE 64 | China could sink the surplus

Plenty of swing factors could wipe out Wayne Swan’s $1.5 billion budget surplus for 2013 but none is greater than a downturn in China.

Minister reminds BHP: Olympic time is ticking

29 November 2011 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 30 November 2011 | PAGE 48 | BHP hears Olympic’s time ticking

South Australian Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis has told BHP Billiton that “the clock is ticking” on it committing to its $30 billion Olympic Dam project.

BHP’s Vanselow plays it by the clock

29 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 29 November 2011 | PAGE 18 | Vanselow plays it by the clock

BHP Billiton will have a new chief financial officer overseeing the development of its five-year strategic planning process.

Europe threat to mining investment

29 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 29 November 2011 | PAGE 1 | BHP, Rio warn on downturn

A major downturn in the global economy because of the euro zone debt crisis would force BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to shelve or slow expansion plans, the chief executives of the two global miners have said.

Banks: it’s not all that bad

29 November 2011 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 29 November 2011 | PAGE 56 | Banks: it’s not all that bad

The inter-bank funding freeze in Europe is bad for Australia’s banks but don’t swallow the doom and gloom scenarios.

Kerr to be CFO at BHP as Vanselow retires

28 November 2011 | Angela Macdonald-Smith

Updated | BHP Billiton said chief financial officer Alex Vanselow will retire in a number of senior management changes. Mike Henry will be president of the miner’s marketing business.

Reality check on CEO pay

23 November 2011 | Michael Smith

PRINT: 23 November 2011 | PAGE 1 | Reality check on CEO pay

Wage rises for the nation’s top chief executives have slowed in the past three years, confirming the end of an explosion in pay packets earlier this decade.

Australia’s best paid chief executives and executive end notes

23 November 2011 |

PRINT: 23 November 2011 | PAGE 11 | Australia’s best paid chief executives and executive end notes

A round-up of the salaries earned by the country’s leading executives.

Why let results get in the way of a pay rise?

23 November 2011 | Patrick Durkin

PRINT: 23 November 2011 | PAGE 2 | Cash

An 11 per cent jump in annual cash bonuses this year has helped to deliver a healthy pay rise for the bosses of our top 300 companies, despite a market slump.

Bond raising pleases Kloppers

18 November 2011 | Jonathan Shapiro

PRINT: 18 November 2011 | PAGE 45 | Bond raising cheers Kloppers

BHP Billiton has raised $US3 billion of bonds in the US public market – a demonstration of its ability to access debt at cheap rates, even in severe of market conditions.

BHP cashed up and a bit more cautious

18 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 18 November 2011 | PAGE 45 | BHP cashed up and a bit more cautious

BHP Billiton’s outlook for the global economy in the near-term was even more cautious than a month ago due to the debt woes in Italy, chairman Jac Nasser said.

Guess Hu’s not coming to dinner

18 November 2011 | Angus Grigg

PRINT: 18 November 2011 | PAGE 1 | Guess Hu’s not coming to dinner

An invitation to dine with the President of the United States is rarely refused.

BHP predicts slump in sentiment

17 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

BHP Billiton expects heightened global financial volatility and uncertain economic outlook to weigh on sentiment in the markets for its commodities.

ECB buying fails to stem equities sell-off

17 November 2011 | Joanna Heath

Before the Bell | Global equities lower despite efforts to bolster euro zone bonds, news Italy, Greece have approved new governments ■ Dow, S&P 500 drop 1.6pc ■ SPI down 17pnts ■ $A at $US1.0079

Too busy to dine with Pres

17 November 2011 |

PRINT: 17 November 2011 | PAGE 44 | Too busy to dine with Pres

Many of corporate Australia’s leaders were too caught up with work to attend the dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House to welcome Barack Obama.

BHP shale plans in spotlight

14 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 14 November 2011 | PAGE 18 | BHP shale plans in spotlight

BHP Billiton petroleum chief executive Mike Yeager will be pressed to provide details about the company’s plans for its $US20 billion of new shale gas assets in the US.

BlueScope gives scope for shareholder dissent

14 November 2011 | Andrew White

PRINT: 14 November 2011 | PAGE 17 | BlueScope gives scope for shareholder dissent

Pay reports for manufacturer BlueScope Steel are among those likely to come under scrutiny this week as shareholders gather for annual meetings under the government’s new two-strikes rule.

Bosses in a huddle

11 November 2011 | Staff reporters

PRINT: 11 November 2011 | PAGE 4 | Bosses in a huddle

It was a big turnout from the CEO club last night as more than 450 leaders attended the Business Council of Australia’s annual dinner.

Commercial espionage surfaces here

07 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 07 November 2011 | PAGE 56 | COMMERCIAL ESPIONAGE SURFACES HERE

BHP Billiton CEO Marius Kloppers received a surprise mention in a report from the US Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive released on Friday.

Big bucks: the dark art of executive pay

05 November 2011 | Patrick Durkin

PRINT: 05 November 2011 | PAGE 51 | Behind the big bucks: the dark art of exec pay

As remuneration reports spark more shareholder revolts, the complex formulations by which corporate chiefs are paid bear some sharp scrutiny.

A widening gap between Britain and Australia

02 November 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 02 November 2011 | PAGE 50 | A widening gap between Britain and Australia

Whenever Evy Hambro, the London-based head of the $US36 billion BlackRock natural resources fund, visits Australia, he finds investors have a more optimistic view.

Kloppers to meet SA premier for Olympic Dam talks

26 October 2011 | Jamie Freed

New South Australian premier Jay Weatherill will meet BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers next week in Adelaide.

Investors don’t rate corporate citizenship: Kloppers

26 October 2011 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 26 October 2011 | PAGE 7 | Investors don’t rate corporate citizenship: Kloppers

BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers has told a business forum it’ll be awhile before investors value companies’ contribution to creating better economic outcomes in the communities where they operate.

Prices are still ‘pretty darn good’, say miners

25 October 2011 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 26 October 2011 | PAGE 48 | Prices still ‘pretty darn good’

Australia’s three largest iron ore producers have shrugged off a 20 per cent slide in the price of the raw material.

BHP sensitive to price plunge

22 October 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 22 October 2011 | PAGE 18 | BHP sensitive to price plunge

Investors in mining companies should be prepared for a rough ride following the recent plunge in the price of key metals such as iron ore and copper.

Investors deserve bigger share of profits

21 October 2011 | Damon Frith

If you believe the emerging world will drive a 20-year resource boom, perhaps big miners should switch from a progressive dividend policy to a percentage payout plan.

BHP says customers turning cautious

21 October 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 21 October 2011 | PAGE 43 | BHP says customers turning cautious

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has assured shareholders the company’s order book is full despite recent volatility.

Leaders should dig deep, says Argus

21 October 2011 | Katie Walsh

PRINT: 21 October 2011 | PAGE 11 | Leaders ‘should dig deep’

When Don Argus, veteran of the banking and mining worlds, joined the board of resources giant BHP Billiton, he was pretty clueless about the industry, he admits.

BHP public affairs head Epstein quits

19 October 2011 | Perry Williams

PRINT: 20 October 2011 | PAGE 24 | Public affairs head Epstein resigns abruptly

Updated | BHP Billiton has told staff that its head of public affairs, David Epstein, has resigned from the world’s largest mining company effective immediately.

Clive’s big fat BHP windfall

19 October 2011 | Neil Chenoweth

PRINT: 19 October 2011 | PAGE 1 | Clive’s big fat BHP windfall

When Clive Palmer gave away $7 million to employees at his Yabulu nickel refinery last year, he was dubbed “Australia’s best boss”.

BHP, Rio investors can’t eat ‘growth’

18 October 2011 | Ian Harris

PRINT: 18 October 2011 | PAGE 57 | BHP, Rio investors can’t eat ‘growth’

BHP Billiton has just completed a $10 billion share buyback and Rio is over half way through its $5 billion buyback. But this has done nothing for the share price.

Companies briefs

17 October 2011 |

PRINT: 17 October 2011 | PAGE 16 |

Marius Kloppers says any changes to Saskatchewan’s royalty structures will be a factor in BHP Billiton’s decision on the $US10 billion Jansen potash project.

Rivals wary of Olympic uranium impact

17 October 2011 | Angela Macdonald-Smith

PRINT: 17 October 2011 | PAGE 15 | Rivals wary of Olympic uranium impact

Uranium players are watching how BHP manages supply from its planned expansion of Olympic Dam, well aware the extra volumes could destabilise the shaky market.

Project of truly Olympic proportions

15 October 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 15 October 2011 | PAGE 15 | Project of truly Olympic proportions

If all had gone to the initial plan, by now BHP Billiton would be about halfway through digging a hole the size of the Adelaide CBD.

$A surges, equities rise on EU hopes

13 October 2011 | Claire Stewart, Joanna Heath,

Before the Bell | The Australian dollar has surged amid relief that Slovak parties agreed to a fresh vote to revamp Europe’s debt rescue fund ■ $A at $US1.015 ■ SPI up 30pts ■ S&P rises above 1200 ■ Broker watch: Alacer Gold, Aristocrat, Alumina

Rann sets record pace for expansion

13 October 2011 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 13 October 2011 | PAGE 22 | Rann sets Olympic pace for BHP

BHP Billiton has been given a 12-month deadline to start work on ­its $30 billion expansion of Olympic Dam under a deal signed with the South Australian ­gov­ernment.

BHP’s project notice has one-year limit

13 October 2011 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 13 October 2011 | PAGE 23 | Project notice has a one-year limit

BHP Billiton must commit to the full expansion of Olympic Dam within a year from the time the indenture agreement passes through South Australia’s Parliament.

Miners unfazed by carbon tax

13 October 2011 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 13 October 2011 | PAGE 72 | Miners unfazed by CO2 burden

The passage of the carbon tax through the House of Representatives did nothing to stop the huge long-term investment programs of the country’s two biggest miners.

BHP Billiton signs Olympic Dam agreement

12 October 2011 | Mathew Dunckley

BHP Billiton has a 12-month deadline to start work on its $30 billion expansion of Olympic Dam under an indenture agreement signed with the South Australian government.

BHP’s Olympian strategy

11 October 2011 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 11 October 2011 | PAGE 64 | BHP’s Olympian strategy

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers now has within his sights the $27 billion expansion of the world’s fourth largest ore body at Olympic Dam.

BHP plays catch-up with Rio Tinto

10 October 2011 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 10 October 2011 | PAGE 56 | BHP plays catch-up with Rio Tinto

It was supposed to show that BHP Billiton has a vastly superior iron ore resource base, easily expandable infrastructure and increasing emphasis on safety.

BHP will struggle to meet demand for coking coal

30 September 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 01 October 2011 | PAGE 14 | BHP will struggle to meet demand for coking coal

BHP expects China will continue to import more coking coal as it builds more steel blast furnaces near the coast.

Faith in iron ore can’t be shaken

29 September 2011 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 29 September 2011 | PAGE 64 | Faith in iron ore can’t be shaken

The timing of the annual China International Steel and Raw Materials Conference 2011 has proven opportune this year.

BHP gearing is nearing the danger zone

24 September 2011 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 24 September 2011 | PAGE 15 | BHP nearing the gearing red zone

There’s been a reversal of fortunes at the top end of resources town, with the strength of Rio Tinto’s balance sheet now touted as superior to that of BHP Billiton.

Modest pay rises for BHP top brass

21 September 2011 | Andrew white

PRINT: 22 September 2011 | PAGE 19 | BHP executives gain modest pay rises

BHP Billiton’s record profit translated into more modest pay rises for the top executives at the world’s biggest diversified miner in 2010-11.

Eat your heart out, Wayne Swan

17 September 2011 | Peter Kerr

PRINT: 17 September 2011 | PAGE 51 | Eat your heart out, Wayne Swan

The federal Labor Treasurer can only watch in frustration as a Liberal premier beats more tax out of WA’s miners – and the federal government will be sent the bill.

Jargon cuts the mustard for execs

16 September 2011 | Patrick Durkin

PRINT: 16 September 2011 | PAGE 3 | Jargon cuts the mustard for execs

Jargon has soared to new heights as corporate executives search for ways to talk up what was, for many, a tough six months.

BHP called into line on WA royalties

13 September 2011 | Peter Kerr

PRINT: 13 September 2011 | PAGE 3 | BHP called into line on WA royalties

BHP has been told that it will not be able to expand its Western Australian iron ore mines unless it agrees to the state government’s push to raise royalties, Premier Colin Barnett has said.

BHP duds shareholders long-term

07 September 2011 | John Youngman

PRINT: 07 September 2011 | PAGE 59 | BHP duds shareholders long-term

When it comes to dividing the company profits, there’s clear evidence of a major conflict of interest – almost always settled in favour of incumbent management.